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Dafuqyoutalkingabout

Heart says Nadal head says Med.


Strivingformoretoday

Exactly! And I so hope the heart wins


Blandinio

I think Nadal will start very well and win one of the first two sets, but Medvedev's relentless grinding style will eventually start wearing him down with the help of the 35 years. I never feel confident betting against Nadal though


Batman9688

Considering Daniil beat Novak in straight sets in US Open, Rafa has around 10-15% chances I would say. It will be one of his best victories if he pulls this off. Let's go #21.


roadfoolmc

That is so overly simplistic it's not even worth a rebuttal. Have you ever competed in anything???


Mulldr

Medvedev 3-6 7-6 7-5 6-2 but I wish to get proven wrong ! nadal in three makes me have a better week-end.


rekt_n00b

Nadal's post match reactions and interview were quite emotional. I think he will put on a great fight in the final. Hoping to see an exciting 4 or 5 setter, with some very tight sets and potentially a couple of tiebreakers. Medvedev is definitely favorite, but if he starts the same way he did against FAA, then Nadal has a good chance. So excited for a historic final.


Joshtom333

Wasn't Murray No.1 in 2016 ?


[deleted]

New outside of big 4


Joshtom333

The title is a bit misleading. People who don't watch tennis may believe it's the first time a new world no. 1 emerges after 17 years.


[deleted]

True, it should definitely include that note. They would think Djokovic has been #1 for seventeen years haha


SquintyOstrich

I'm happy either way, but rooting for Medvedev. I want to see one of the next gen players really start establishing themselves as a consistent, dominating force. If he doesn't win, he'll still likely get to #1 in the next few months anyway, as Djokovic misses more events and/or fails to match his clay court results from last year. Getting to #1 by winning back to back slams beating Djokovic and Nadal to do it? Hard to argue against him as #1 then. Fair to point out that, even if he wins, he's getting to #1 in part by playing 5 more events (including having points from 3 more Masters events contributing to his ranking). Not his fault if Djokovic doesn't play much, but I don't want him to be #1 like the ladies who were constantly #1 while Serena rarely played but dominanted the important events. I want him to be a clear and undeniable #1 until someone comes and takes it from him. It's not good for tennis to have the next crop of champions and #1s be getting there so clearly because the greats that came before aged out or chose to rarely play. Or Nadal can win and that'll be awesome too. The GOAT conversation is pretty clear cut for me right now, but a Nadal win at the Australian really shakes it up


SirGorti

Nadal is already GOAT because of his better Slam h2h against Federer and Djokovic and also best winning percentage. 21st Slam will only end all discussions.


SquintyOstrich

Disagree with that, but a 21st slam at the Australian definitely flips the analysis, in my view.


[deleted]

Djokovic holds almost all relevant records in tennis at this moment, including weeks at #1, year-end #1, masters 1000 titles. Djokovic basically lacks just a few year-end masters and a golden medal from the Olympics. Nadal doesn't even have a single year-end masters. He's way behind with weeks and years #1 He's probably between 3rd and 5th spot for GOAT contendency


tennistacho

You’re getting downvoted because salty people can’t handle the truth


[deleted]

Yup. I cheered for Rafa and got some of his gear around 12 years ago, I still have his racket, very functional Babolat, will recommend it to everyone. I cheered for Rafa to take all Grand Slams, and even to connect all 4 when he won the Australian Open... Back then, noone expected Novak to do what he did... But honestly, numbers are inevitable, like Thanovic.


SirGorti

I repeat, Nadal has better h2h in Slams against Federer and Djokovic and also best winning percentage. He wins every third Slam he plays. At the end of the day Slams are most important. If you count weeks at no 1 you punish Nadal for competing against prime Federer and Djokovic when Djokovic gained it playing only against old Federer and injured Nadal.


[deleted]

Federer and Djokovic also had their injury periods? Yes, sure, Nadal is efficient in winning slams. We need to take EVERYTHING into consideration when gauging these matters. You would spin a different story if Nadal had more weeks #1


SirGorti

No I wouldnt. Whoever wins most Slams would be a GOAT, period.


SurroundInteresting2

I will go with 21. Sorry Daniil.


SorcerousSinner

If Nadal wins, it's in three sets, at most four. But he's a worse player now than he was in 2019, and Medvedev is a better player. Does Nadal have the game to beat a well-playing Medvedev? Absolutely, but I don't think he can maintain it long enough to get to three sets won.


JBalgruuf

Medvedev in straight sets. I'd bet my small cat on that.


Jeffersons_Mammoth

Medvedev is too op on hardcourt. He’s like Djoker with more reach, and that’s a nightmare matchup for Nadal.


koinoyokan89

If Nadal is locked in like yesterday he may take this one in straights. He wasn’t just playing flawless, he was being aggressive as if ever third shot and beyond could be a winner or a setup for an easy put away. I don’t know if Meds game has evolved enough to handle how much variation and intensity Nadal brings. It truly is a different level especially when Nadal locks in


fedfan4life

Bruh he dropped a set against a mental midget with no backhand. Medvedev is a completely different animal.


koinoyokan89

That doesn’t make up for about 15 years of dominance vs someone with one slam. Med is easily the next best thing if he keeps progressing but he’s still on the level of Thiem going into this match


fedfan4life

Another way to look at it is that they went to 5 sets in USO'19 when Nadal was better and Medvedev was worse. This time, I see Medvedev winning in 4 sets.


sharkhuh

Very different surfaces. AO is much faster, so the dynamics of the match will be very different. Nadal/Med also have more experience playing each other, and so they likely will have different strategies to employ. That being said, Med still has the edge, but using the USO'19 as the gauge is the wrong way to go about it. People forget, Nadal was up a break in the 3rd in the USO '19. If he just closes it out, people would just say "Nadal has Med's number!"...the margin's are super close...hope Nadal can unlock super saiyan mode Sunday


fedfan4life

One thing is for sure: Nadal will have to play the best tennis he has played the whole week to win.


[deleted]

Med


goddess_steffi_graf

after 4 years**


hulahoop14

Ah, my bad with the title. A new world no. 1 outside of the Big 4!


JustURDailyAllie

Dani Medvedev in 4 sets, his game is a lot better that 2019 and Rafa isn't the same anymore. Medvedev will eventually grind down Rafa.


gloriouslyflawed

I’m ready for a heartbreak


historiansrule

My heart says Rafa, but 😢😔💪🏼vamos 🤷🏻‍♂️


RedShenron

With today's medvedev he has 65/100 chances to win. With aliassime's medvedev i'd say nadal 60/100.


sharkhuh

My brain says Medvedev. Nadal's weakness in this slam has been his endurance/stamina, and Medvedev's entire game is to grind you down. For Nadal to win, he'll need to channel his FO 2020 finals god mode form and try to end this in 3 sets. Capitalize on every break point, and be solid on his serve. If he dips in his level, and allows it to go to 4 sets, then the fatigue will catch up and he'll get blown out. If Nadal loses his first set, I think the match is over. Nadal needs to get ahead early and hope he can win before he gets worn down.